Mbabane: Minister of Health Lizzie Nkosi said the country is set to receive a donation of 500 000 doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from COVAX Facility.
The minister revealed this on Monday when presenting a ministerial statement in the House of Assembly giving legislators an update of the COVID-19 vaccine progress.
The minister said the exact date to when the doses will hit the soil of this land will be communicated in due course and when closer to the date. She said initially the country had expected the 108 000 doses but on March 23, 2021 the country received 12 000 doses from the COVAX Facility.
The minister further revealed that on bilateral negotiations, Eswatini was trying to source 100 000 doses of the Russian Sputnik vaccine through the Gamaleya Institute. The Gamaleya Research Institute, with part of Russia’s Ministry of Health, developed a coronavirus vaccine known as Sputnik V or Gam-COVID-Vac.
Nkosi further told the August House that besides the E200 million that was set apart by the government for procuring more vaccines, the government had an additional US$15.8 million donated by the Kirsh Foundation, and US$1.5 million from the Republic of Taiwan. She also mentioned that the USAID had committed US$2 million to support the rollout through partners.
Vaccinated
The Health Minister revealed that as of Monday 52 health workers had been vaccinated while 2 250 had registered for vaccination. She said at least 1 870 of the general public had registered for vaccination.
She said no one will be forced to vaccinate but all EmaSwati were encouraged to register so to get vaccinated.
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